BowHunterRN

Oh ok, I know they were looking to change that, I think it was something with the PA board of nursing. That is frustrating, it is nice to continue on with the same school!

I believe it is still only accepting students from Ohio, WV, and Kentucky, but that could have changed. Do you mean it was restricted to all students?

Yes, I am in the program now.

I became an RN at 22, got my BSN at 24, and am now in an FNP program. I will be 27 when I'm done :).

Thanks for the replies! I did not infuse the IVIG. I called in the morning and told the manager I was not comfortable infusing without training. This company only has one other nurse - who, for some reason, is not to work with that patient. There is something odd about the situation, but the manager wouldn't explain much. The patient has an immune deficiency, and over 2 months ago the company's only RN at the time left - leaving no one to do the infusions. Instead of going to another home health agency, the patient said she would wait it out until another nurse was hired. They hired one, but they only worked together once. So, 2 months later, they hire me, and tell me to go give this treatment that the patient has not had for over 2 months! The manager (who, as I stated, is an LPN), wasn't sure if the patient's doctor knew she wasn't receiving her treatments. She told me to make some sort of note stating that the patient was now accepting her infusions. The whole thing had red flags all over it to me, and my instinct was to not do it. I am actually going to leave the job, as I have not had training on anything and they just expect me to understand home health nursing when I have no experience. I was really hopeful this job would work out, as it seemed flexible, but I don't want to do anything I don't feel safe doing. Hopefully I can find somewhere else that will work with my through school :)

Hello! I recently took a job with a home health agency. I took a PRN position and am wondering if I should have done so. I have a few questions, so I will start with the one concerning IVIG. I was hired by an LPN, who runs the company. The problem is that LPN's cannot infuse IVIG, so she therefore cannot provide me any training regarding this. She has me set up with a patient who receives IVIG and called the patient to inform her that I would be coming TOMORROW without even asking me. The patient had the supplies taken to her house and is awaiting me in the morning. My problem: I have been a hospital RN for three years, but have only given IVIG once or twice. I have an order for the specific rates to infuse, and understand that I need to monitor vital signs, lung sounds, etc. However, I am unsure if I need to piggyback it into something (Like NS with blood?), or if I run it alone. Also, I know that PRBC's cannot be run over 4 hrs. Does IVIG have any time restrictions? The LPN told me to take about five hours, but when I calculate the rates given to me, it seems like it will only take 2 and 1/2 hours. I am very concerned about administering something I am not comfortable with, but feel obligated as she set this up without my knowledge. I called the patient to see if I could set it up for another time, and she started crying!! I am really unsure what to do, and appreciate any help! Ok, so for my other questions. I am wondering if this job is like all home health agencies, or if I should start looking for another job. I am an RN, I took a PRN position because I am attending school full-time for my MSN. I was told I could choose my own hours and own patients being PRN. My manager called me today with two days worth of patients - one admit, and other supervisory visits and recertifications. I have never done any of these. She gave me the forms and told me they were pretty self-explanatory. I did not receive any training and am worried about completing things I never have done before. I do not have home health experience. The agency has about 80 or so patients and is currently picking up more, and only has one full-time RN and myself (there are also a few LPN's). I feel like I am going to be expected to see many more patients than I was told I would if there is only one other nurse (who is also brand new). I had to ask them to give me equipment - cuff, gloves, thermometer. I was told they didn't have pulse oximeters and other things because they aren't Medicare certified yet. I feel like they have just thrown me into this and I have no idea what I am doing!!! I'm sorry for writing a book here - I have no one to ask about this stuff!! I appreciate any advice, thanks for taking the time to read this!! :)

I'm one semester in to my FNP program online, and I had to quit my part-time job at a hospital. I think it just depends on where you work and if they are supportive of your education. I needed certain days off for quizzes, and wasn't given them. I made other requests and was not given those either. I was becoming burnt-out after just one semester, and decided to focus on my education. I actually just got a PRN position that will allow me to pick up as many or as few hours as I want on the days I want. The main reason I did this is because I didn't want to have nothing on my resume for the two years I was in school. However, I think employers might be more understanding than we may think. Graduate school is difficult, and I don't think that there is anything wrong with saying that you wanted to focus on your education. I'm the same as you - I tend to put A LOT of work into my school work, so it tends to take me longer to complete things than some others. Everyone is different, you have to do what's right for you!

sofla98, I doubt even the dean would change anything. This entire school is messed up. They lie to you in order to get you to be quiet, then don't change anything. I was accepted into the program, I was supposed to start this week. They ignored me for over two weeks, then ensured I would be placed on the waiting list. The director of the program told me that the students who were starting clinicals (maybe the class ahead of you?) could not get clinical hours ANYWHERE. She stated that they were starting to push students back a semester because the other students were having so much trouble getting clinical hours. She would not explain why the students could not get clinical hours, and I don't understand it. You can now attend OU if you live in Ohio, WV, and Kentucky I believe. That's at least three states worth of clinical sites. I live in a small town in Ohio, and I truely doubt that there's a ton of NP students trying to get clinical hours in my area. So, are places just not accepting OU students, or is there more behind this? I am wondering if this is what they did to you as well, since they are trying to cut down the class sizes. I think that they accepted too many students and are unable to assist them with clinical sites. In order to have a graduating class, they would rather push some students out instead of not graduating any students since they could not get clinical hours. I am told I have a reserved seat in the next semester, but I don't think I am going to take it.

sofla98, I'm sorry that this school has done this to you. I also am very disappointed, but I am not letting it get me down. I am applying to other schools and want a good education - as I'm sure you do too. It doesn't sound like that's what you were getting at OU if they were grading you unfairly and weren't educated enough to be teaching the classes. I agree that they don't have a solution to their problems except finding ways to kick students out. I think they are accepting too many students and don't have the means to keep up with them. This school is horrible with communication, they will avoid you by all means possible. I would not recommend this proram to anyone! Good luck to you - I'm sure you will find a good school that will provide you with a good education and the grades you deserve!

I finally spoke with someone at the university, apparently the person who made this decison. She stated that their students are having difficulty finding clinical sites (the students already a year into the program). This is therefore pushing the other students behind, so they felt it was best to make the class smaller. They made this decision three weeks before the semester was to start, and the director told me they did it as soon as they could. When I asked why I was chosen to be deferred until summer semester, she stated that they went in order of application date. I was accepted in October, the deadline was not until December. I explained this to her, and she stated that I "probably" shouldn't have been on the list, but there is nothing she can do now but put me on a waiting list. So, Ohio University made many mistakes that therefore have effected me, and all they can say is that they "apologize." I WAS a proud graduate of OU's RN-BSN program, but I will NEVER recommend this university to anyone. While I am disappointed that I have to wait to start my education, I would rather get my education at a University that is established and professional. Ohio University is far from that. Thanks for all of your answers! I am looking into other schools now, there are many out there!

Thanks for your support! This school seriously does not have things together. I have been trying for days now to contact someone, yet no one can give me any answers. They conveniently sent me that e-mail the day before they went on break for the holidays, and now their excuse is that everyone is behind from being off. Well, I don't care if they're behind! This is not right. The only contact they have given me is supposedly the head of the program, yet she does not have voice-mail and is not responding to e-mails. If I can't start this Spring, I would like to start by Summer semester, but I am afraid I have already missed deadlines for many programs. I will look into the programs you mentioned though, mtsteelhorse. Thanks for all fo your answers! I will keep you updated!

Hello, I have been admitted to Ohio University's online FNP program for Spring 2013. the semester is supposed to start January 14. I have been very excited about this program, although there were some issues along the way. However, I recently received an e-mail from the program director that stated "You may have already been notified by the Graduate College that you were admitted for the Spring 2013 Term; however, the program has reached enrollment capacity." It then goes on to say I can either wait until summer or drop out. They sent this e-mail December 20 - 3 weeks before the semester starts. I received a letter in October telling me I was admitted - it states nowhere that this could change. I have been talking with my advisor often since November, and received information of the classes I am to take, dates for Orientation, and textbook information. I am extremely disappointed in this program. I have cut down hours at work in order to focus on classes and cannot get those hours back. I was told by the advisor that admission to this program is on a first come, first serve basis, and that I was among the first group of students admitted. I was wondering if anyone else has had any issues with Ohio University, and if anyone knows if they can legally tell a student they are admitted and then withdraw that admission due to their mistake? I am so angry about this! Thanks for your input!

I also am finishing up my BSN at OU. I'm done with all of the nursing courses, but have one elective this fall. I have my MSN application nearly completed, and the enrollment advisor called to see how I was doing. She had previously told me that as long as I was an OU BSN student, I could apply to the MSN program before finishing my BSN, as long as I would have my BSN before the start of my MSN. When she called this time, I wanted to confirm this information. She then told me she didn't know if they would accept me, since the application deadline is December 1, and I won't have my BSN until after the deadline. I KNOW this is not what she told me previously. I was really looking forward to this program, but I now feel that it needs some work. I really wanted to start my MSN in the spring, so I am now looking at other options. Good luck in whichever course you choose! Anyone know of any other online MSN (FNP) programs that are more established?

Hi! I'm in the process of applying to the MSN program. You do not need to take the GRE unless your GPA is less than a 3.2 I believe. That is your combined GPA - the average of all of your previous college GPA's. You need three recommenders - you provide their e-mail address, they send them a form. You need to provide a resume and a statement of professional goals. The website is unclear and the enrollment advisor has not been very helpful in my opinion. She seems to contradict the information she provides, and I feel that many of my questions are not answered. I do know that the program is about 27 months and you start clinicals in your second year. Classes are all online and are 7 weeks long. The enrollment advisor coud not give me a good answer regarding what the classes consist of. I have really been working on my application and hoping to get in, but my recent conversation with the enrollment advisor is making second guess my choice. I hope this was helpful to you! Good luck in continuing your education!

Thanks for your replies! I think I am going to put some of the activites I did in school, as they were only two years ago. I appreciate your comments!

Hello! I'm sure many of you understand how difficult applying to an MSN program can be! I am currently applying to Ohio University's MSN Family Nurse Practitioner online program. I am looking for some opinions. I spoke to the admissions advisor, who said that they recommend community involvement to be on your resume. I did a lot of community activities in nursing school (I only graduated from my ADN 2 years ago), but must admit I haven't volunteered much since. A full-time job and working towards a BSN can get busy :). I was wondering if anyone thought it was appropriate to include the community involvement I did in school on my resume, or if anyone had ideas for volunteer work for nurses. I don't have a lot of time, as I would like to get the application in by the end of this month. I appreciate your assistance!

thanks for the list to both of you! i just thought of another question if you don't mind.. is it ok to take blood from a peripheral IV? I know when first inserted that is done, but what about after a day or two? I always thought that if it wasn't brand new, or if meds have already gone through, you shouldn't take blood from it. But I've seen people try to see if they get a blood return from an IV that wasn't new, and if they did, use it for a blood draw. I just was wondering if this is ok. Thanks.

I'm a new grad and have been recently doing nights, too. I treid going to bed normally the night before my 3 12's, and trying to take a nap before work, but that didn't really work for me. I couldn't fall asleep, and was so tired around 4am. There are lots of great suggestions here. One thing that I have found, and I don't know if others feel the same, but is to eat a nice meal before work and just bring snacks for the night. I was packing a "lunch" with a sandwich, fruit, chips, etc. and within an hour of eating, I felt like I could climb into an empty bed! I started bringing fruit and granolas bars to just snack on, as I noticed th other nurses doing, and that seems to work better.

I'm very interested in the list of most irritating medications. If there's any way you could give it to me, I would really appreciate it.

you all have given such helpful information! I actually just did a day in the ER, where I did get more experience, which made me feel a little better. I guess it just all takes time. Our hospital doesn't have an IV therapy team, so I really want to understand IV therapy. As for those of you who metioned schools these days, I agree. My teacher actually told us that IV's are just a "task" and have nothing to do with nursing. I had no idea how to start an IV or even how to piggyback a med on my first day of work! I understand that this is not what nursing is all about, but in many settings, nurses constantly deal with IV's. I feel more confident now thanks to all of your in depth answers, thank you so much!

I'm a new nurse and have some questions about using IV's. We were taught NOTHING about IV's in school, and it seems like at work everyone just assumes I know all about them. So here it is: When a patient states that their IV is "hurting" should you not use it? I know some medications burn, like phenergan, but I don't want to use an IV that is possibly infiltrated. Another question - My preceptor and I had a patient who had a peripheral IV and said it was hurting. It was due to be rotated the next day, so I was just going to change it. My preceptor went ahead and used it. The next week, the patient was back with cellulitis in the same place that the IV was. So, did my preceptor use an infected site? What is the best thing to do when an IV infiltrates? Ice? Elevate? My preceptor didn't do anything on one patient. And, are you supposed to try to restart the IV in the opposite arm? This patient had an IV in their hand that infiltrated, and it was restarted on the same arm in her AC. If it's above the infiltrated site, that's ok, right? And - This is more of a med question, but - why is it that some nurses give IV phenergan and dilaudid close together, but others wait an hour? I've looked in books to see why they should be an hour apart, but haven't found an exact answer. Just wondering about this for patient safety. I feel like I don't know the signs that an IV should possibly be restarted, so I've been trying to read up on it. But I still had some questions, so I thought I'd come here. I hope I don't come off as a clueless nurse, I just want to know more than I do. Thank you so much!!

Thanks. I do work for a hospital, so I will have to look into what they offer. And the website is a big help, I haven't come across it yet. So thank you!! :)

Hello I have an ADN and am currently looking into getting my BSN online. I have looked at many schools, and although I haven't come to a decision yet, I wanted to see if there were scholarships available for RN's. I'm assuming there will be some options from the school I choose, but I was also wondering if there were any others that anyone knew about. If anyone knows of any, I would really appreciate your tips! Thank you!

I just got hired on a med/surg floor. I start orientation next week, and I'm very excited. I just was wondering if anyone had any tips for beginning work. Like, what all should I bring with me? Any charting tips? Organization skills? I was going to purchase a clipboard and use that for all of my assessments, is that a good idea? I'll also be on rotating shifts, and have never worked a midngiht shift before, so was wondering how everyone makes their bodies adjust to that? Sorry for all these seemingly unimportant questions, I'm just curious how others begin their shifts. Thanks for the help!

I agree. An employer would be more interested if you are CPR certified, or have any other certifications, than about your interests. Did you graduate with any kind of honors? On my resume I listed my school, my degree, and then "Honors Graduate." Also, I listed the clincial rotations I had. (Some people say to do this, some don't, it's your opinon.) Good Luck!